---
title: "Delete an alerts index"
method: DELETE
path: "/api/detection_engine/index"
tags: ["Security Detections API"]
---

# Delete an alerts index

`DELETE /api/detection_engine/index`

**Spaces method and path for this operation:**

<div><span class="operation-verb delete">delete</span>&nbsp;<span class="operation-path">/s/{space_id}/api/detection_engine/index</span></div>

Refer to [Spaces](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/manage-spaces) for more information.

Permanently deletes the Elastic Security alerts backing index in the current space, including the alerts
stored in it. Use with caution; prefer lifecycle policies or the UI when available.
Call `GET /api/detection_engine/index` first to confirm the index that will be removed.

## Response `200`

Successful response

- object
  - `acknowledged` boolean, required

## Other responses

- `401` — Unsuccessful authentication response
- `403` — Not enough permissions response
- `404` — Index does not exist response
- `500` — Internal server error response

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/elastic/apis/kibana-apis.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/elastic/apis/kibana-apis/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/elastic/kibana-apis/versions/531c9e2a7d23/schema)